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Teen Assaulted by Man Claiming to be Officer

From Saturday's Metro section:

A 17-year-old Loudoun County teenager was assaulted Thursday night by a man who identified himself as a police officer after using flashing blue lights to pull over her car in western Fairfax County, police said yesterday.

The driver was headed west on Route 50 near the Greenbriar Shopping Center in Chantilly when a dark-color four-door sedan flashed its lights, and she pulled over about 11:50 p.m., Fairfax police officer Don Gotthardt said. The driver of the sedan quickly flashed a badge, ordered her out of the car and then touched the teen inappropriately, Gotthardt said.

The teen screamed and reached for her car horn, and the man fled.

It was the fourth time in recent weeks that drivers have reported being accosted by police impersonators in Fairfax, but Gotthardt said police believe that the first three might not have been impersonators. Gotthardt said if drivers are stopped by an unmarked car and doubt its authenticity, they should drive to a well-lighted area, turn on emergency flashers, stay in the car and dial 911, if possible. Callers may ask for a uniformed officer to come to the scene, Gotthardt said.